Mobile crane

ABSTRACT

The present application relates to a mobile crane comprising a telescopic boom which has a hinged section and at least one telescopic section which can be telescoped out of it, or to a crawler-mounted crane. In accordance with one embodiment, as a position detection device, it has at least one transducer in the form of an inductively operating transponder, a receiver unit for the sensing of the position of the transducer, a control device for control in dependence on a signal of the receiver unit, as well as a signal transmission device in the form of a databus for the transmission of the signal data from the receiver unit to the control device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/132,641, entitled “MOBILE CRANE,” filed May 18, 2005, whichclaims priority to German Utility Model Application Serial No. 20 2004008 083.4, entitled “A MOBILE CRANE”, filed May 19, 2004, the entirecontents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference for allpurposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to a mobile crane having a telescopicboom which has a hinged section and at least one telescopic sectionwhich can be telescoped out of it, or to a crawler-mounted crane.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

With conventionally used mobile cranes or crawler-mounted cranes aseries of data is sensed in the electronic control and monitoringsystem. These are, for example, data with respect to the setupconditions, to the added counterweights, to the extended position of thestabilizer plates and to many other things. The respective data aresensed by different detection systems and are input automatically inpart, but also manually in part. The respective setup condition of theboom is, for example, thus typically entered into the computer by theoperator by hand. The computer then calculates the possible maximumload-bearing capacities with reference to the correspondingly enteredvalues.

In another application, the extended position of the stabilizer platesis sensed by a corresponding sensor system. Here, for example, thelength of a running tape measure is sensed which is secured to thetelescopic end of the plate and is refracted and extended with it.

It is the object of the present application to provide a mobile crane ora crawler-mounted crane comprising a state or position detection devicewhich unambiguously detects pre-defined states or positions and passesthem reliably on to the electronic control system.

In accordance with one embodiment, this object may be solved by means ofa mobile crane or of a crawler-mounted crane comprising at least onetransducer in the form of a inductively acting transponder, a receiverunit for the sensing of the position of the transducer, a control devicefor controlling in dependence on a signal of the receiver unit, as wellas a signal transmission device in the form of a databus for thetransmission of the signal data from the receiver unit to the controldevice are used as a position detection device.

Correspondingly inductively acting transponders having receiver unitsare typically also called RFID systems, i.e. radio frequencyidentification systems. Such RFID systems are generally already known inthe most varied application areas. These RIFD systems have a transponderwhich, on excitation by corresponding signals, inductively transmitsinformation as an RF signal to a receiver unit. The receiver unit, whichis also called a reader, contains a digital electronic system whichcontrols the transponder such that it transmits back the informationstored on it as modulated RF signals. This information received by thetransponder is supplied in one embodiment via a databus to the controldevice of the mobile crane. In one example, a state and positiondetection device of this kind can be used in different positions in themobile crane.

Since it is of special importance in a mobile crane that the detectiondevices of this kind work without error, for the self-check of thefunctioning of the receiver unit, a transponder may be fixedly installedin it in accordance with an advantageous aspect which transmits apre-determined function signal for the continuous monitoring of thefunctioning of the position detection device. If therefore the specificsignal transmitted by the fixedly associated transponder is no longerreceived here, an interference event signal is generated in the controlcomputer so that this malfunction cannot remain unnoticed in theoperation of the mobile crane.

Further preferred embodiments of the invention result from the furthersubordinate claims dependent on the main claim.

In accordance with a particularly advantageous embodiment variant, theposition detection device can be used with a guy-rope in the form of arope length adjustment apparatus. This length adjustment apparatus has arope-holding apparatus for the adjustment of a desired rope length ofthe guy-rope, with the rope length adjustment apparatus having at leastone transducer secured to the guy-rope whose positions can be sensed bythe receiver unit and with the control device controlling therope-holding apparatus in dependence on a signal of the receiver unit 1.

The mobile crane or crawler-mounted crane can advantageously have aguying for the telescopic boom which has at least one guy supportsupported on one of the sections, a guy-rope supported by the guysupport and a rope length adjustment apparatus in accordance with thepreviously described solution.

The receiver unit can be arranged at the guy support. A rope winch forthe hauling in of the guy-rope can advantageously be provided which ispreferably arranged on the guy support and can be controlled independence on the signal of the receiver unit. This rope winch can formthe rope-holding apparatus.

The at least one transducer can be integrated in a ring seated on theguy-rope. Such a ring can be pressed onto the rope at a pre-determinedposition.

Two guy supports can advantageously be provided which are spread apartin a V shape in an operating position and a guy-rope can run over eachguy support, with transducers preferably being secured to each guy-rope,preferably to rope sections respectively corresponding to equal ropelengths of the guy-ropes. Due to the position detection device providedhere, it can be precisely determined by how much the respective guy-ropehas been tensioned by the corresponding transponders moving over thereceiver devices so that the precise and symmetrical positioning of theguy supports can hereby be set.

Another preferred aspect of the invention consists of a transducer beingarranged at least at one ballast element from which a signalcorresponding to the ballast can be transmitted to a receiver unit.

The receiver unit can be integrated into a region of the mobile cranechassis on which the at least one weight can be placed. A plurality ofreceiver devices can also be arranged at corresponding positions of themobile crane chassis which can then communicate with associatedtransponders after the corresponding placing on of weights.Alternatively, a receiver device can also be arranged in a portable unitwhich is guided along the placed-down weights by the operator in orderto pick up the corresponding data from the respective transponders ofthe weights. These data can then, for example, be input into the controldevice of the mobile crane via a radio connection.

The receiver unit can also be arranged in a region of the crane boom onwhich the at least one weight can be suspended. Communication takesplace here with the associated transponders after a correspondingsuspension of the weights. These data can, as already described above,be transmitted to the control device of the mobile crane so that theprecise ballast adjustment of the boom can be sensed here.

In accordance with another advantageous aspect of the invention,transducers can be arranged at the extensible stabilizer plates, withcorresponding receiver units being arranged at the vehicle chassis.Transducers, i.e. transponders, are advantageously arranged atpredetermined positions at every stabilizer plate so that the preciseposition of the support plate can be determined by the respectivereceiver unit. The position can be precisely determined both withrespect to the sliding spars extensible horizontally to the vehicle andwith respect to the vertically extensible support plates. In addition,it is possible to measure at each stabilizer plate whether it is underload.

A further preferred aspect of the invention relates to a setup elementdetection, for example of lattice elements of a derrick boom. Arespective transducer, i.e. transponder, is arranged at the respectivesetup elements. After a corresponding assembly of the individual setupelements, the setup condition can be determined by reading out thesignals from the transponders. For this purpose, receiver units canadvantageously be arranged at the adjacent elements and are connected tothe control computer of the mobile crane via a bus system. The precisegeometric configuration can be determined with reference to thecorresponding setup condition data in the control computer. Weightdistributions within the boom can hereby be calculated in a simplemanner with great precision.

Yet another embodiment variant of the invention contains a mobiletransducer which cooperates with a receiver unit which is arranged at aspecific position on the mobile crane in order to detect a safe positionof an operator and to release predetermined actions of the mobile crane.The occupational safety of the operator is hereby substantiallyincreased. The problem previously existed that, for example on a remotecontrol of the crane, the operator could be hit and injured byretracting or extending stabilizer plates. Since the operator has tostand in the close region of a receiver unit through the transponder ortransducer, it can now be ensured by a corresponding arrangement of thereceiver unit that the operator is standing outside the danger zone. Theremote control is only released in the embodiment shown here in thiscorrespondingly defined region. This means that the operator cannotoperate the blocked remote control in a region in which the transducerhe is carrying does not exchange data with the receiver unit. Only inthe region in which the transducer transmits its data to the receiverunit is the remote control released and thus the safety of the operatorensured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further details and advantages result from an embodiment shown in thedrawing.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective total view of a mobile crane with alateral guying in accordance with a preferred embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view of the telescopic boom and its lateralguying of the mobile crane of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic detailed view of a weight support on anundercarriage of a mobile crane;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a partly extended stabilizer plate of amobile crane;

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view from above of a part of theundercarriage with partly extended stabilizer plates; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are different setup conditions of installable latticebooms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a mobile crane 10 comprising a telescopic boom 12 which isrotatably hinged to the vehicle about an upright axis of rotation and isluffably hinged about a horizontal axis. The telescopic boom 12 has ahinged section 14, which is hinged to the vehicle in the named manner,as well as further telescopic sections 16 and 18 which can be telescopedout of the hinged section 14. A guying 20 of the telescopic boom 12 isguided over a pair of guy supports 22. Guying-ropes 24 lead from thefree end of the guy supports 22 to the tip of the telescopic boom 12,with it naturally also being possible to guide the guy-ropes 24 at thehead of the central telescopic section 16, for example. The guy supports22 are in turn captured via guy-ropes 26 in the region of the hinge endof the hinged section 14.

The guy supports 22 are movably hinged to the head of the hinged section14, and indeed such that they are folded in a transport position at thehinged section 14, whereas they are spread apart in V shape in themanner shown in an operating position.

As shown in FIG. 2, the guy supports 22 can each have a pulley block 28at their heads via which the guy-ropes 24 stopped at the boom tip areguided. The guy-ropes 24 run over rope winches 30 which are eachsupported at one of the guy supports 22. The rope winches 30 serve asrope stores, on the one hand, and the tensioning and holding of theguy-rope, on the other hand.

A plurality of transducers or transponders 32 are secured to theguy-ropes 24, with their being formed in the embodiment shown here asrings or sleeves which are seated on the outer periphery of therespective guy-rope 24 at specifically pre-determined positions. Thetransponders 32 are spaced apart from one another so that different ropelengths can be adjusted. The spacings of the transponders 32 from thestop point of the guy-rope 24 at the tip of the telescopic boom 12 arethe same in pairs so that the rope lengths of the right hand guying andof the left hand guying can be adjusted identically.

To be able to sense the position of the transponders 32 and thus to beable to determine the effective rope length between the guy support 22and the stop point of the guy-rope 23 at the boom, receivers units 34are arranged at each guy support 22. The system of transducer 32 andreceiver unit 34 is a system known as such in the prior art consistingof a transponder 32 and reader 34 of an RFID system (radio frequencyidentification system). Such systems on the basis of the physicalprinciple of induction are already known per se. In the correspondingtransponders 32 in the example shown here, the precise information ofthe rope positions is stored at which said transponders are arranged.They are then read out at the receiver unit 34 when sliding byaccordingly during the tensioning of the guy-rope 24.

The procedure can be as follows on the guying of the telescopic boom.When the telescopic sections 16 and 18 of the telescopic boom 12 areextended, the rope winches 30 are switched to pulling out so that theguy-ropes 24 can run off the rope winches 30 on the pushing out of thetelescopic sections 16 and 18. When the telescopic sections 16 and 18have reached their extended position, they can be latched to oneanother. The guy-ropes 24 are then tensioned via the rope winches 30.The guy-ropes 24 are hauled in by a distance until the correspondingtransducer 32 has reached a pre-determined position which is sensed bythe receiver unit 34. The control unit stops and latches the ropewinches 30 in dependence on the corresponding signal of the receiverunit 34 so that the guy-rope is held in the corresponding position.

A further embodiment in accordance with the invention is shown in FIG.3. The partial view of a weight support on an undercarriage of a mobilecrane is shown purely schematically here. A part of the undercarriage 40of a mobile crane not shown in any more detail is indicated purelyschematically, with ballast weights 42 being placed on said part of theundercarriage. The ballast weights 42 each have integrated transponders44 which, in the present embodiment, communicate with receiver devices46 which are arranged at corresponding positions of the undercarriage40. The correspondingly received signal is forwarded by the receiverdevices in a manner not shown in any detail here to the central controlunit of the mobile crane where the data are processed.

In FIG. 4, the schematic view of a partly extended stabilizer plate 48of a mobile crane is shown. The stabilizer plate 48 can be refracted orextended in the direction of the double arrow a. The position of thestabilizer plate 48 is determined by transponders 50 which are arrangedat pre-determined positions of the telescopic part 52 of the stabilizerplate 48. For this purpose, the transponders 50 cooperate with thereceiver device 56 arranged at the fixed-position part 54 of thestabilizer plate 48. The corresponding position of the stabilizer platecan be supplied to the control computer of the mobile crane again via abus system not shown in any more detail here after the receivedtransponder signal.

A further application of the present invention results from theapplication example in accordance with FIG. 5.

The chassis 58 of a mobile crane is shown schematically there at which,for reasons of simplification, only two lateral stabilizer plates 48 areindicated which can in turn be telescoped in or out in the direction ofthe double arrow a. A receiver device 60 is shown centrally in theregion of the vehicle chassis 58 and cooperates with a transponder notshown in any more detail here which is carried by an operator 62. Thetransponder is carried, for example, in that the operator carries aremote control device for the remote control of the different functionsof the mobile crane. As soon as the transponder carried by the operatoris in the region of the receiver device 60, the remote control functionsare released so that, for example, the stabilizer plates 48 can be movedin or out in the direction of the arrow a. It is hereby reliablyprevented that the operator is located in a dangerous zone, i.e. forexample in a region in which he would be hit by the refracted orextended stabilizer plates 48.

In FIG. 6, a further application possibility of the invention within theframework of a bus condition detection is shown by way of example. Here,a lattice mast 70, for example of a installable derrick boom, is shownwhich consists of four individual elements 72, 74, 76 and 78. Each ofthese elements has a different geometrical configuration and a differentcenter of gravity. The corresponding lattice elements 72, 74, 76 and 78can be connected to one another at corresponding bolting points 78 and80. The corresponding data of the corresponding lattice elements 74, 76and 78 can be transmitted via transponders 82, which are associated withthe respective lattice elements 72, 74 and 76, to respectivelyadjacently arranged receiver devices 84, each arranged in the latticeelements 72, 74 and 76 respectively in the embodiment shown here, usingan RFID system in accordance with the invention. The corresponding dataare supplied from the receiver devices 84 to the control system of themobile crane via a bus not shown in any more detail here. After acorresponding assembly, the current bus condition can thereforeautomatically be precisely detected. The transponders 82 cooperate herewith adjacent receiver elements 84 which are arranged in therespectively adjacent lattice element. The respective arrangement of thetransponders 82 or the receiver elements 84 is standardized in theembodiment shown here. Pluggable transitions for the bus are associatedat the transition positions of the lattice elements and the signals areforwarded via them.

In FIG. 7, a setup condition detection not shown in detail is integratedwhich serves for the detection of the geometrical configuration inlattice elements of different geometrical design such as are shown herewith reference to lattice elements 90, 92 and 94. The geometry of theadditionally installed lattice boom is therefore here determinedautomatically by the respective transponders associated with the latticeelements 90, 92 and 94 by transmitting the corresponding data strings tothe system control.

The details and features of the invention shown by way of example in theembodiments with reference to a telescopic crane can be used in the samemanner with a crawler-mounted crane.

1. A mobile crane comprising: a lattice boom comprising a plurality oflattice elements; a detection device configured to detect at least onepre-defined state or position within the crane, the detection devicecomprising a plurality of inductively operating transponders and aplurality of receiver units, the transponders and receiver unitsarranged at the lattice elements, each transponder configured totransmit information to a corresponding receiver unit arranged at anadjacent lattice element and configured to sense the transponder; acontrol device configured to control the crane in dependence on signalsof the receiver units; and a databus configured to transmit theinformation from the receiver units to the control device; wherein eachinductively operating transponder is an RFID transponder configured totransmit back the information stored on it as a modulated RF signal, andwherein each receiver unit is an RFID reader comprising a digitalelectronic system that controls the RFID transponder to transmit backthe information.
 2. The mobile crane in accordance with claim 1, whereina setup condition of the lattice boom is determined by the controldevice after assembly of the lattice elements based on the informationtransmitted from the receiver units to the control device by thedatabus.
 3. The mobile crane in accordance with claim 2, wherein ageometrical configuration of the crane can be automatically determinedby the control device based on the setup condition of the lattice boom.4. The mobile crane in accordance with claim 2, wherein a weightdistribution within the lattice boom can be calculated by the controldevice based on the setup condition of the lattice boom.
 5. The mobilecrane in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lattice elements each havea different geometrical configuration and a different center of gravity.6. The mobile crane in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lattice boomis a derrick boom.
 7. The mobile crane in accordance with claim 1,further comprising a mobile transducer that cooperates with a receiverunit arranged at a pre-determined position on the crane in order todetect a safe position of an operator and to release pre-determinedactions of the crane.
 8. A mobile crane comprising: a lattice boomcomprising a plurality of lattice elements; a detection deviceconfigured to detect at least one pre-defined state or position withinthe crane, the detection device comprising a plurality of inductivelyoperating transponders including a first inductively operatingtransponder arranged at a first lattice element and a plurality ofreceiver units including a first receiver unit arranged at a secondlattice element, the first inductively operating transponder configuredto transmit information to the first receiver unit, and the firstreceiver unit configured to sense the first inductively operatingtransponder; a control device configured to control the crane independence on signals of the receiver units; and a databus configured totransmit information from the receiver units to the control device;wherein each inductively operating transponder is an RFID transponderconfigured to transmit back the information stored on it as a modulatedRF signal, and wherein each receiver unit is an RFID reader comprising adigital electronic system that controls the RFID transponder to transmitback the information.
 9. The mobile crane in accordance with claim 8,wherein the first lattice element is adjacent to the second latticeelement.
 10. The mobile crane in accordance with claim 9, whereinadjacent lattice elements of the plurality of lattice elements areconnected to one another at bolting points.
 11. The mobile crane inaccordance with claim 8, wherein a setup condition of the lattice boomis determined by the control device after assembly of the latticeelements based on the information transmitted from the receiver units tothe control device by the databus.
 12. The mobile crane in accordancewith claim 8, wherein a geometrical configuration of the crane can beautomatically determined by the control device based on the setupcondition of the lattice boom.
 13. The mobile crane in accordance withclaim 8, wherein a weight distribution within the lattice boom can becalculated by the control device based on the setup condition of thelattice boom.
 14. The mobile crane in accordance with claim 8, whereinthe lattice elements each have a different geometrical configuration anda different center of gravity.
 15. The mobile crane in accordance withclaim 8, wherein the lattice boom is a derrick boom.
 16. The mobilecrane in accordance with claim 8, wherein the at least one inductivelyoperating transponder further includes a mobile transducer thatcooperates with a receiver unit arranged at a pre-determined position onthe crane in order to detect a safe position of an operator and torelease pre-determined actions of the crane.
 17. A method for a mobilecrane, comprising: determining a setup condition of a derrick boom afteran assembly of lattice elements of the derrick boom, the determinationincluding reading out signals sent by RFID transponders arranged at thelattice elements to corresponding RFID readers, the RFID readersconnected to a control computer of the crane via a databus; anddetermining a geometrical configuration of the crane based on the setupcondition of the derrick boom.
 18. The method of claim 17, furthercomprising calculating a weight distribution within the derrick boomwith the control computer based on the setup condition of the derrickboom.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein each RFID transponder isarranged at a lattice element adjacent to a lattice element at which thecorresponding RFID reader is arranged.
 20. The method of claim 17,further comprising continuously monitoring the functioning of a positiondetection device of the crane with an RFID transponder fixedly installedin an RFID reader, the RFID transponder installed in the RFID readertransmitting a pre-determined function signal.